Learn the best questions to ask a Maricopa family law attorney during your free consultation.
Meeting with a family law attorney? There are so many areas they cover, and you can utilize their expertise in each area. For example, you want to divorce your husband in Arizona, after 10 years of marriage. You have two children and together you both have built a beautiful home and comfortable living. He works, running his own business. You help manage the business and you also run the household.
The divorce will not impact management of the business as you both have agreed to the separation and know that what’s best for the kids and the business is that the two of you try to get along. That’s great and very mature. However, you still need an attorney to handle the divorce, make sure that custody of the children is agreed on, that the business ownership is fairly divided and that you also have your rights protected based on the laws that impact not only Maricopa, but all of Arizona in situations like this. That’s why you need a family attorney.
Your Free Family Law Attorney Consultation
Even in the best situations, you need a family lawyer. You will probably look for someone a friend can recommend first. If that doesn’t work, you will head to the web to find the best local candidate. There will be dozens of attorneys with similar qualifications as well as reviews and offers. The key one you want is the free consultation.
You should never have to pay to speak with a family law attorney regarding a consultation. The consultation is an opportunity for you to determine whether you and the attorney are a good fit. It’s also your best opportunity to get detailed, important information for free. So, what should you ask?
Best Questions To Ask
During your free consultation, it’s important that you know what to ask to get the information you need. While the attorney is trying to determine if you’re a good match for them, you also need to know whether or not they are a good match for you. Here are some questions to get you started:
- What are my legal options? After explaining your situation, the first thing you need to know is whether or not you have legal options and what they are. In the example above, your husband may owe you equity from his company.
- How are my rights different in this state? Arizona follows community property law. The number one mistake people make when researching legal information online is that they do not apply their state to the research. State laws always impact family law.
- What can you offer me as far as services? What can the attorney you’re meeting with provide you with? Can they help you with the business side or is that not so much in their wheelhouse? You want to know every service you’re getting and why it’s offered or needed.
- How should I move forward? What happens if both you and your spouse want to stay in the marital home during the tendency of the divorce, but there is strife? This is why you need a lawyer to advise you of your legal rights.
- How do I protect myself? That’s the most important question you have to ask right now. What if your spouse wants to get remarried and move out of state with your minor children? You need to know your rights regarding relocation.
- What legal challenges do I need to be prepared for? If you have community property which needs to be divided, a skilled attorney can assist you in protecting your assets.
- What options do I have for custody? Agreeing to custody, now called legal decision-making, is critical to determine who will make medical, educational and religious decisions for your children.
- What about situations of domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse or other types of mental health issues? If the other parent has engaged in domestic violence, child abuse, or suffers from mental health or substance abuse issues, that other parent may be precluded from having any decision-making ability. This critical component must be addressed to your family law attorney.
- What other areas does a family lawyer cover? Can they help with your business and keeping control? Can they improve your situation and show you areas where you are vulnerable from a legal standpoint?
- Can you represent me in a divorce as well? Divorce attorneys are in high demand, not just because the rate of divorce is high, but because their services are needed for years, not just months. The process can take a while, especially if there are disagreements to who gets what. Your attorney will try to resolve everything quickly, but you need to know they can represent you in the long term as well.
- How should I transition my family? It’s a good question to ask. Do not expect your lawyer to tell you how to do everything but they have seen families go through similar situations and they may be able to help offer advice.
- What about our finances? That’s another area you want an experienced Maricopa family lawyer to be involved in. Any attorney who has experience handling finances in divorce and separation would be a major benefit to you, especially in the long-term.
- What information is needed? You have provided the story, now the lawyer is going to need more information to assist you, especially any previous legal agreements, statements and anything that shows what you own.
- What can I expect from you and your staff? A good question and an important one. Often, you will not have direct communication with the attorney but instead their staff. Your lawyer will communicate with you whenever they can, but immediate communication will be handled by the staff.
- What limitations or weaknesses do you have in areas I may need help in? Another fair question and important. Your attorney may need to engage experts if a business valuation is needed.
There are dozens of options available to you. However, when contacting a Maricopa family attorney, start by making sure that you are getting the best service and someone who can work with you, not just today, but in the future.